Sunday, July 30, 2017

This is a very similar recipe to the BBQ Pork Ribs, but I make it often enough, that I thought I would record it for my future self-1 month from now, when I'm trying to remember what I did for this recipe. Once again, I love my Instant Pot in moments like I had tonight. I had people coming over for dinner at 5:00, and I wasn't going to the store, because it is Sunday. I had to find something I could make with what I already had, and I found a pork roast in the freezer. I defrosted it for a couple of minutes in the microwave, long enough to be able to cut it in 4 pieces. Then, I cooked it in my Instant Pot for 35 minutes, and it was perfectly shred-able when it was done. Start to finish it took an hour! And, it tasted wonderful!

BBQ Pulled Pork in the Instant Pot
by: Carolyn (after looking at many different food websites)

Set your Instant Pot to Saute, add the oil, and let it get hot. Sprinkle the kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, onion powder and garlic powder generously on to your roast and rub it in. Cut the roast into fourths and when the Instant Pot is hot, brown each side of the roast pieces (I just did all four pieces at the same time, in the bottom of the IP). Pour the beef broth over the top of the roast. Lock your lid into place, and set your Instant Pot on high pressure, for 35 minutes if the roast is frozen, 20-25 minutes if it is thawed. When it is done, do a quick release, drain most of the liquid, and shred your pork. Pour your favorite BBQ sauce over the top and stir.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

In 16 years of marriage, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have made pot roast. It is just not my favorite. I grew up in a home where we ate roast and potatoes almost every Sunday, but my own children really only know roast from when we are at Grandma's house on a Sunday. However, that all may change with the Instant Pot that Dustin gave me for Christmas. I seriously love this kitchen tool! I have made beef pot roast three times in the last couple of months, which is like a super record for me. And each time, the roast has come out so moist, so tender, so flavorful. It is delicious! My children may end up with memories of pot roast, after all!

Moist, Flavorful Pot Roast (in the Instant Pot)adapted from: pressurecookerecipes.comPot Roast, cut 2 inches thickkosher saltfresh ground pepper1 Tbsp. oil1 onion, sliced (or, I used dehydrated onions, re-hydrated)2 tsp minced garlic2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar1 c. chicken broth1 Tbsp. soy sauce1 Tbsp. oyster saucefresh rosemary-rub in between fingers before addingground sageHeat up your Instant Pot, using the Saute button. Add the oil and heat until very hot. Season the pot roast with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper on both sides. Place the meat in the Instant Pot, and brown it for 5 minutes on each side. Remove it from the Pot and set it aside. Add the onions and cook them until they are soft. Add the garlic and cook it for 30 seconds. Pour the balsamic vinegar into the Instant Pot, and deglaze the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Stir in the chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rosemary and sage. You may add a little more salt and pepper, to taste. Place the meat back into the Pot, close the lid, and set the Instant Pot to high pressure, for 45 minutes. When it is done, do a natural pressure release for 25 minutes (although, I didn't have time to do that today, and it still turned out perfect). I have made this with potatoes and carrots in the pressure cooker, and I have made it without any added vegetables. If you add veggies, they end up so flavorful, and it becomes a one pot meal!

Sunday, March 5, 2017

I've mentioned before how much I'm enjoying my Instant Pot that Dustin gave me for Christmas. The more I use it, the more I am amazed with it! The other night I knew that I had some frozen pork ribs, but the only thing I really felt like doing with them was BBQ. And the only way I knew to do that was to slow cook them all day. But all these thoughts happened at 4:00 in the afternoon. I started looking for recipes using the Instant Pot and dealing with frozen meat. I had cooked some chicken from frozen in my Instant Pot and it hadn't worked as well as I had hoped, so I was looking specifically for tips to be successful with frozen meat. I came upon a website, www.hippressurecooking.com, and there were great tips for cooking frozen meat, as well as cook times. I decided to give it another try, and I'm so glad I did! After 20 minutes in the Instant Pot (plus pressurizing time), My ribs came out tender, moist and so delicious! I was totally amazed! Total prep, cook and de-pressurizing time was less than an hour--less time than my sweet potatoes took to bake in the oven. I am loving this new kitchen gadget. If you don't have an Instant Pot, but do have all day, I'm sure this would also be delicious in your slow cooker.

In saute mode, heat the oil in your Instant Pot. Saute the onions until they are translucent. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Brown the frozen pork ribs in the Pot (as best as you can, with them being frozen and probably stuck together). Add the salt, pepper and barbecue sauce and then pour enough water in to cover the ribs. Set the Instant Pot to the Meat setting, high pressure, and 20 minutes cook time. You can let it naturally depressurize, or do a quick depressurize, if you need to.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

I had a New Year's Resolution this year to try one new recipe a week. I used to cook new foods regularly, but my busy life kind of took over and I didn't take the time to find new things to make for my family. I actually love to cook, but had found that I was bored with my old stand by recipes, and starting to dread dinner time every night. My husband encouraged me to set a goal to try a new recipe once a week, and I have pretty much stuck to it. It has made all the difference in how I feel about mealtime preparation for my family! I love trying new recipes! I saw this recipe on facebook and tried it out right away and my family loved it. I used the frozen cheese tortellini from Costco and it tasted perfect with the soup.

Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup

slightly adapted from: cafedelites.com

1/2 pound ground Italian sausage, browned

1 onion, chopped (I used my dehydrated chopped onion)

2 large carrots, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped (I omitted because I was out of celery)

2 tsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

2 tsp. beef or chicken bouillon powder

1/2 tsp. salt

4 c. beef or chicken broth

1/4 c. cornstarch mixed and dissolved in 1/4 c. water

3 cans evaporated milk

1 12 ounce package of frozen tortellini

2 1/2 c. fresh baby spinach

1 c. milk

Place the browned sausage, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, Italian seasoning, bouillon powder, salt and broth in a slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 7 hours. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and the evaporated milk. Add the tortellini and stir it together. Cook it on high for 45 more minutes, or until the tortellini is cooked through and the soup has thickened. Gently stir in the spinach and cook for another 5-10 minutes. Pour in the milk, a little at a time, until the soup has your desired consistency. Add more salt to taste. I actually forgot to add the milk at the end, and our flavor and consistency were just right. The recipe says that extra milk may be needed when reheating leftovers because the soup absorbs a lot of liquid as it cools. We didn't have the problem because we had nothing leftover!

Sunday, January 29, 2017

My hubby gave me an Instant Pot pressure cooker for Christmas. I stared at the box for 2 weeks before I even opened it because I didn't know what to do with it. All I really needed to do was look online because when I did, I found tons of recipes to make using my pressure cooker. And then I started finding friends who swear that it is the only way they cook now. This recipe came from one of those friends. The soup was incredibly flavorful, which is one of the things that people say about cooking with a pressure cooker. I would be curious to try it in a slow cooker, or on the stove to see if it had as good of a flavor. My entire family ate it and liked it! Winner!

I am going to give the instructions just as my friend gave them to me. If you make this using a slow cooker or on the stove, I'm sure you can figure it out.
1. Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add onion, bacon, garlic and oil. Stir while sauteing for 3-4 minutes. Do not walk away or this will burn.
2. Add 1 c. of chicken broth, potatoes, carrots, celery, parsley, red pepper flakes, and Italian Seasoning. Stir. Place the lid on the pot, press Steam button and set minutes to 10. (It takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure and then cooks for 10 minutes)
3. When it beeps, do a quick pressure release. Remove the bacon and discard (I didn't discard it. We just cut it into bite-sized pieces, then put it back in at the end). Add 2 cups of chicken broth and the heavy cream. Insert a handheld blender and run it on short bursts until it has a creamy consistency that you like, but make sure to leave chunks of potatoes. Don't puree it all. Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring gently to incorporate.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

I found this recipe on my friend, Michele's, food blog the other day. I gave it a try, and my family loved it! In fact, we made it again a few days later because they liked it so much. And it is so quick and easy if you prepare the chicken in advance, shred it and freeze it in one cup amounts, like I did. Doing it that way, it probably only took 5-10 minutes to prepare. Love an easy meal!Chili Lime Taquitosby: sweetluvininthekitchen.blogspot.com2 c. cooked, shredded chicken1 Tbsp. chili powder1 1/2 Tbsp. lime juice (or the juice of one lime)1/4 c. chopped cilantro1 c. shredded monterey jack cheese6-8 tortillasIn a skillet, stir together the shredded chicken, chili powder and lime juice. Add the cilantro and cheese and stir it all together. Remove it from the heat, and put 3-4 tablespoons of the mixture on one end of a tortilla. Roll it tightly, starting from that end, and then place it seam side down on a baking sheet. Repeat with all of the tortillas and chicken mixture. Leave a little space between each taquito on the baking sheet, so that they will cook all around. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush a little oil over the top and sides of each taquito. Bake at 425 degrees, for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve with sour cream, salsa and guacamole.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

This was Avery's choice for pie this year. It sounded so rich and sweet that I thought it would be too rich, and too sweet. But, I was wrong! It was just enough. So delicious! It was the favorite pie of all that we made.Peanut Butter Pieadapted from: allrecipes.com4 oz. cream cheese, softened3/4 c. powdered sugar1/2 c. peanut butter1 tsp. vanilla8 oz. container of Cool Whip24 crushed Nutter Butter cookies4 Tbsp. melted butterchocolate fudge ice cream toppingIn a small bowl, stir together the Nutter Butter crumbs and melted butter and press into the bottom and sides of a pie plate. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until it begins to look golden brown. Set it aside and let it cool down. In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar and beat it with an electric mixer until it is smooth and creamy. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and do the same. Stir in the cool whip until it is well combined (also, smooth and creamy) and spread the whole mixture over the cooled Nutter Butter crust. Squirt a little of the chocolate fudge ice cream topping over the top of the pie and refrigerate until you are ready to eat it.